The wait is over and I’m really looking forward to riding Trifolium, the pick of my three rides today, in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy.

I had quite a scare on Sunday when Allied Victory fell in Naas. I got a bad shaking and was quite stiff on Sunday night before travelling over

I wasn’t sure how I’d feel yesterday morning. But I rode out two lots for Dessie Hughes here yesterday morning before having a bit of a rest.

And I’m confident that I’ll be in good fettle, for the ‘off’ – after I get the all-clear from the doctor.

Three rides today – Trifolium, Valseur Lido and Art Of Logistics – and more than a keen interest in the Champion Hurdle when I’ll be hoping Our Conor can do the business.

I came here last year dreaming about having a winner and, amazingly, ended the week with three. And it’s a case of fingers crossed that I follow-up this year, as Gigginstown’s jockey.

And Trifolium, a horse I have a hundred per cent record on, is my best chance of getting one on the board today.

As a hurdler, he was good enough to finish third to Cinders And Ashes in the Supreme Novices two years ago.

But trainer Charles Byrnes always felt he’d be a smashing chaser and the horse has already proved him right - four runs – two wins and two seconds.

I was impressed by him when he won first time over fences in Thurles back in November. He winged fences and struck me as a horse with a real appetite for the game.

He was beaten twice, by Felix Yonger (Navan) and Defy Logic (Leopardstown). But he was very good the last day, in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown.

He jumped from fence to fence and, although we got to the front sooner than planned, he was really impressive, beating Felix Yonger by nine lengths.

Trifolium is a horse with a history of wind problems. But he looks great and will be helped by the drying ground – even if the general feeling yesterday was that it would ride quite dead today.

This horse has a high cruising speed and, touch wood, is a smashing jumper. And those qualities give him a big chance in today’s Arkle. He travelled over well and looks in great order. So I’m expecting a very big run from him.

Obviously, it’s a hot race and Champagne Fever will be tough to beat.

He deserves to be favourite, particularly if he comes here in the same form as when winning the Bumper and Supreme Novices in the last two years.

Dodging Bullets was beaten too far in the Supreme Novices last year for me to fancy him today and I wonder if the hard race Rock On Ruby had in last year’s Champion Hurdle has left its mark, just like the effect it had on Peddler’s Cross a few years ago.

He hasn’t been tested over fences and will have to jump and travel today.

Willie Mullins runs three in the Supreme Novices and all of them have a chance.

On paper, Vautour looks the pick of them, but neither Wicklow Brave nor my mount ValsEUr Lido should be discounted.

Valseur Lido has won two from two and hasn’t been tested. But I liked him when I rode him work and believe that he could be anything.

There’s no way that Willie would be running him here if he didn’t believe he had a shout. He could be the ‘dark-horse’ of the race.

And I’ll be keeping a close eye on Wicklow Brave with Wednesday’s Neptune in mind – he had too many gears for our Lieutenant Colonel in Punchestown last month.

Art Of Logistics (right) is my other mount, in the last, the novice handicap chase, a horse I’ve won on four times, twice over hurdles and twice over fences, including a Grade 3 at Punchestown.

I suppose he was well beaten in both the Drinmore and the Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas.

But today’s race should be more suitable and any improvement in the ground would be a help. I hope he has an each-way chance.

I’m really looking forward to the Champion Hurdle, probably the race of the meeting, hoping that Our Conor can follow up last year’s memorable Triumph win.

I know five-year-olds have a poor record in the race. But this horse is no ordinary five-year-old and gave Hurricane Fly a fright in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

I’ve been riding him at home and he has definitely improved since Leopardstown. But he’ll have to step-up again if he’s to beat Hurricane Fly.

Throw in The New One and My Tent Or Yours and we should have a brilliant race and it would be great if Our Conor wins.